What does חָסֵר mean in the Bible?
Ḥāsēr concerns lack, deficiency or decrease, with the object making the particular use clear. Exodus 16:18 describes measured manna without a shortfall for the one who gathered little.
Hebrew · H2637
חָסֵר
Ḥāsēr concerns lack, deficiency or decrease, with the object making the particular use clear. Exodus 16:18 describes measured manna without a shortfall for the one who gathered little.
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חָסֵרH2637
What does חָסֵר mean in the Bible?
Reader summary
Full entry for חָסֵר (H2637) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H2637?
The BSB source-word alignment has 22 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include lack (2), run dry (2), - (1), [so that] they lacked (1), and bereave (1).
Where does חָסֵר appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 8:3. Its strongest book concentrations include Deuteronomy (3), Genesis (3), Psalms (3), 1 Kings (2).
What This Word Actually Means
Ḥāsēr concerns lack, deficiency or decrease, with the object making the particular use clear. Exodus 16:18 describes measured manna without a shortfall for the one who gathered little. Deuteronomy 15:8 directs an open hand to supply what a poor brother needs. These contexts connect provision and need with practical responsibility; they do not make a person's shortage proof that the person has failed spiritually.
Psalm 23:1 voices confidence in the Lord as shepherd while the same psalm still describes a dark valley and enemies. Genesis 8:3 uses decreasing waters in the flood's aftermath, showing that this identity need not describe a personal moral or spiritual deficiency at all. Teaching should ask what is lacking or diminishing and how the passage responds. The verb does not promise every reader abundant possessions, turn shepherd confidence into denial of hardship or relieve those with resources of responsibility toward someone whose need is visible.
Passage contextCanonical parallel
How the Bible Uses It
Measured manna, a poor brother's need, shepherd confidence and receding floodwaters identify different objects of lack or decrease. Provision language retains practical generosity and the psalm's danger rather than providing a universal prosperity verdict.
- Exod.16.18
When they measured it by the omer, he who gathered much had no excess, and he who gathered little had no shortfall. Each one gathered as much as he needed to eat.
The measured manna provides without shortfall to the one who gathered little. The account includes daily gathering and storage instructions rather than an unlimited accumulation promise.
- Deut.15.8
Instead, you are to open your hand to him and freely loan him whatever he needs.
The command requires an open hand and lending what the poor brother needs. Lack creates a responsibility for the giver rather than grounds for blaming the person in need.
- Ps.23.1
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
The shepherd declaration voices confidence in divine care, while later verses retain the dark valley and enemies. It cannot be turned into denial that a trusting person faces hardship.
- Gen.8.3
The waters receded steadily from the earth, and after 150 days the waters had gone down.
The floodwaters decrease during the account of their recession. Here the object is water quantity, not a person's defective faith or moral character.
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itlack2×Genesis 18:28, Psalms 34:10
run dry2×1 Kings 17:14, 1 Kings 17:16
-1×Deuteronomy 15:8
[so that] they lacked1×Nehemiah 9:21
and bereave1×Ecclesiastes 4:8
and he lacks1×Proverbs 31:11
and you have lacked1×Deuteronomy 2:7
be lacking1×Isaiah 51:14
had gone down1×Genesis 8:3
is empty1×Proverbs 13:25
lacks1×Song Of Solomon 7:2
of1×Isaiah 32:6
shortfall1×Exodus 16:18
spare1×Ecclesiastes 9:8
they will lack1×Ezekiel 4:17
to recede1×Genesis 8:5
want1×Psalms 23:1
we have lacked1×Jeremiah 44:18
where you will lack1×Deuteronomy 8:9
You made him a little lower1×Psalms 8:5
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 8:3וַיַּחְסְר֣וּtohad gone downConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralGenesis 8:5וְחָס֔וֹרtoto recedeConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Infinitive absoluteGenesis 18:28יַחְסְר֞וּןtolackVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural | Paragogic nunExodus 16:18הֶחְסִ֑ירtoshortfallVerb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singularDeuteronomy 2:7חָסַ֖רְתָּtoand you have lackedVerb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singularDeuteronomy 8:9תֶחְסַ֥רtowhere you will lackVerb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularDeuteronomy 15:8יֶחְסַ֖רto-Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular1 Kings 17:14תֶחְסָ֑רtorun dryVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular1 Kings 17:16חָסֵ֑רtorun dryVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularNehemiah 9:21חָסֵ֑רוּto[so that] they lackedVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 8:3
Aligned rows22
Books represented12
Genesis3Exodus1Deuteronomy31 Kings2Nehemiah1Psalms3Proverbs2Ecclesiastes2Song Of Solomon1Isaiah2Jeremiah1Ezekiel1
Source forms
יֶחְסַ֖ר3xyeḥ·sarDeuteronomy 15:8, Song Of Solomon 7:2, Isaiah 51:14
יֶחְסָֽר׃2xyeḥ·sārProverbs 31:11, Ecclesiastes 9:8
אֶחְסָֽר׃1x’eḥ·sārPsalms 23:1
הֶחְסִ֑יר1xheḥ·sîrExodus 16:18
וְחָס֔וֹר1xwə·ḥā·sō·wrGenesis 8:5
וַיַּחְסְר֣וּ1xway·yaḥ·sə·rūGenesis 8:3
וּמְחַסֵּ֤ר1xū·mə·ḥas·sêrEcclesiastes 4:8
וַתְּחַסְּרֵ֣הוּ1xwat·tə·ḥas·sə·rê·hūPsalms 8:5
Parsing patterns
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular5xDeuteronomy 15:8, Proverbs 31:11, Ecclesiastes 9:8, Song Of Solomon 7:2
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular2x1 Kings 17:14, Proverbs 13:25
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural2xPsalms 34:10, Ezekiel 4:17
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - second person masculine singular | third person masculine singular1xPsalms 8:5
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular1xEcclesiastes 4:8
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural1xGenesis 8:3
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute1xGenesis 8:5
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular1xIsaiah 32:6
Using This Word Well
Be careful not to...
- Hear and assess concrete needs without requiring the person to prove adequate faith before help is considered.
- Encourage responsible sharing while preserving the care for both recipient and giver in Paul's actual argument.
Avoid claiming...
- Ḥāsēr does not establish that lack is evidence of spiritual failure or that trust guarantees personal wealth.
- The verb does not turn every decreasing quantity into a moral defect or excuse withholding available care from a person in need.
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. to lack ; by implication, to fail , want , lessen
Source Gloss
to lack ; by implication, to fail , want , lessen
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
to lack; by implication, to fail, want, lessen BDB: lack Usage: be abated, bereave, decrease, (cause to) fail, (have) lack, make lower, want.
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups2Aligned forms16
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense14×
ImperfectDeut 15:8 · Isa 51:14 · Prov 31:11 · 1Kgs 17:14 · Prov 13:25 · Ezek 4:17 · Ps 34:11 · Deut 8:9 · Ps 23:19×
PerfectDeut 2:7 · Jer 44:18 · Neh 9:213×
JussiveEccl 9:8 · Song 7:32×
Hiphilcausative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action2×
PerfectExod 16:181×
ImperfectIsa 32:61×
Word Origins
חָסֵר is a primitive root - no further derivation.
For the Preacher and Teacher
The manna account describes enough measured food for need and also requires daily gathering without keeping it improperly overnight. Its assurance of no shortfall is attached to that provision setting. Deuteronomy then puts the observer's responsibility in focus: an open hand must meet the poor brother's need, even when the approaching release year could tempt someone to refuse. Lack is not made an excuse for avoiding practical help.
Psalm 23 expresses confidence without removing the valley or enemies from the speaker's life. Genesis 8 supplies a nonpersonal use in which waters diminish, preventing a moral diagnosis from being attached to the identifier itself. Second Corinthians 8:13-15 quotes the manna passage while explaining how surplus can meet another community's need without simply creating a burden for the giver. These witnesses support truthful recognition of need and responsible sharing rather than promised personal wealth, contempt toward poverty or treating every shortage as evidence of hidden unfaithfulness.
Anchor passage
Deut.15.8
Doctrinal connections
- Exodus 16:14-21 joins sufficient measured manna with daily gathering and instructions against improper storage.
- Deuteronomy 15:7-11 requires generosity and rejects refusal of the poor because the release year is near.
- Psalm 23:1-6 keeps shepherd confidence together with the dark valley, enemies and divine presence.
- Genesis 8:1-5 describes receding floodwaters and emerging mountain tops as the object of decrease.
- Second Corinthians 8:13-14 explains sharing surplus to meet need without merely shifting an excessive burden.
- Second Corinthians 8:15 quotes the manna measurement as a textual comparison for the community's provision.
Lack or decrease is relative to a named object and setting. Food shortfall, a neighbor's need, shepherd confidence and diminished waters cannot all mean defective faith; the complement and discourse identify what is absent, sufficient or reduced.
From Old to New Testament
Second Corinthians 8:13-15 uses the manna measurement to explain surplus meeting need and the aim of equality. This is an explicit textual comparison rather than a promise of unlimited individual abundance. It does not make every ḥāsēr use about church finance or remove the need to consider the giver's own burden.
Passage contextCanonical parallel